Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest. Held annually in Munich, Bavaria and Germany. It’s a 16 to 18 day folk festival running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, with more then 6 million people from all around the world attending the event every year. During the event large amounts of beer are consumed, along with traditional foods, amusement rides, vendors and games.

Did you know you didn’t need to head to Europe to join in on the fun? We have a great Oktoberfest right here in Utah…. Head up Little Cottonwood canyon to Snowbird from August to October and experience all the same fun! Snowbird’s Oktoberfest was awarded one of America’s 10 Best Oktoberfests and we agree! While this event can be a family affair, activities, music, food and brews, We chose to make it a couples weekend. It’s a great chance to get together with friends and enjoy the activities without having to look after littles! Nothing like catching up with friends and enjoying a beer to catch a break from parenting for the weekend!

Ben and I started going to this event 8 or 9 years ago I believe, (Ben is Dutch and he loves the German food, some is similar to Dutch! Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, potato salad, apple strudel and of course the Soft pretzel!) We heard about the event and at that time it was only in August, every year it has grown larger and each year Snowbird extends the dates. Now it goes until October! My hubby suggested it as a little one night getaway, a date night I couldn’t pass up! As we both moved to Big Bear lake, Ca. when we were 10 and the Oktoberfest was a huge tradition in October in Big Bear growing up, we both had fond memories!  Snowbird didn’t disappoint, we had a ball and truly thought the event was so entertaining and so well done, we started making it an annual event. A couple years into going to our annual Oktoberfest date we decided it would be fun to share with friends and invited a couple of couples….and well it’s grown to several couples and a whole weekend event. 

We start to plan our weekend in the month of  July, we look at the dates Snowbird is hosting that year and pick the weekend that works for everyone. We like to stay at the cliff lodge and book Friday to Sunday!  This allows us to have time at the Spa or pool on Friday and enjoy dinner together!  Saturday we have the whole day to enjoy the festivities of Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest closes at 6pm so we’ll stroll to the outside bar and play some yard games and enjoy the time in the mountain air until it’s dark. Then we’ll head to our dinner reservation and maybe hit the spa before it closes. It makes for a really fun filed day and nobody wants to have to drive home, plus its fun to enjoy a wonderful Sunday breakfast after sleeping in! 

I can’t believe I don’t have pictures of the day everyone dressed up in traditional costumes and I really can’t believe I don’t have a picture of me in my hubbies hat, he bought in Germany when Hudson was almost 3, that I wear every year and have been collecting pins from Oktoberfest since we’ve been coming! (well, some years I don’t have, because snowbird sells out fast!) I might have to take a quick day trip next year on opening day just to grab one before they sell out! Note: to Snowbird…Order MORE souvenirs! They are always out of Small and Med tee’s & sweatshirts and never have pins come late September! They do always have plenty of cool Beer Steins for the year and are refillable for a fee. I love collecting the steins and incase you didn’t guess, I really like beer!

The large food tent never disappoints! The entertainment, dancing (funky chicken & Polka) and all the Authentic German food has us partaking for hours. It’s a standing joke, if my husbands missing….he’s getting Strudel! Ben is alway’s searching out food so he is one happy guy at this event! 

Have a family and want to make it a family affair? This event won’t disappoint, there’s plenty to do in the beautiful mountain setting, from the mountain coaster, 100 person Aerial tram to ride to the top of the mountain & listen to the Alphorns echo from atop Hidden peak, vertical drop, rope course, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, tree climb, bounce houses, games and plenty of food & shopping tents. The whole family will have a ball!

I look forward to this weekend every year and I hope I inspired you to want to take a drive up little cottonwood canyon next Fall for Oktoberfest! OX, D’Arcy